ℹ️ Note
This /questions page is just one of my many “slash pages.”

Last Updated: 2026-06-16

Questions I’m Asking

(These are in addition to these “self-elicitation” questions, which are always worth asking yourself!)

  • What are the most helpful resources (books, podcasts, shows, exercises, etc.) for teaching young children how to have good manners?
  • What’s a good “budget” version of a Veto Pro Pac TP-LC tool bag?
  • What are the most useful lengths and kinds of rope to have on hand?
  • What are the most useful dimensions/kinds of lumber to have on hand?

On a deeper level:

  • What are the socioeconomic implications of following Jesus of Nazareth and his teachings?
  • What was the point of 12 years of theological studies, getting ordained, etc., if I’m now working fulltime as a software engineer?
  • What has happened to the church in the USA?
  • What can be done at the grassroots level to counter fascism, Christian Nationalism, etc.?

Questions I’ve Answered

  • Are /questions pages like this a thing?
  • What’s the best “budget” smart TV?
  • How can I check my roof, attic, insulation, etc. for leaks, mold, etc.?
  • How do I fix a light switch that doesn’t controll a ceiling light/fan like I want it to?
    • Not really sure what’s going on with the light switches in our upstairs bedrooms, but they don’t seem to be meaningfully connected to the ceiling fans in the rooms, which is a bummer. I don’t feel like fishing new wiring right now, so they’re staying as-is (for now).
  • When should I replace my 2016 MacBook Pro, and what should I replace it with?
    • I’m leaning toward installing Linux on my old MacBook Pro, but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
  • Why does Toledo’s NPR station play so much classical music? Is there a way to get more NPR programming on the station?
    • Apparently this is due to preference and funding. I’ve started listening to Michigan Public Radio (91.7 FM) more often, because they have more NPR programming and less classical music.
  • What reference works should I expand my personal library with?
    • After hunting Facebook Marketplace for awhile, I was able to snag a 1990 Encyclopaedia Britannica set for $50.
    • Got a full Britannica Great Books of the Western World set for $250.
    • I’ve also been collecting practical reference books on tools, home repair, homesteading, prepping, gardening, etc. You know, just in case society collapses and I no longer have access to Google and YouTube!
  • What’s the best “budget” bidet?
    • If/when my wife ever lets us get a bidet (she’s worried about our toddler getting into things and causing a huge mess), I’ll probably just go with Wirecutter’s Budget Pick.
  • Where can one buy Madeira wine in NW Ohio?
    • Joseph’s Beverage Center in Toledo, OH
  • How do I get rid of woodpeckers that keep pecking my house?
    • Turns out, hanging something shiny near where they peck is a good deterrent!
  • What’s the best, easiest workflow for sharing links online?
    • This is why I built LinkLog! Check it out!

Lists of Questions

Versatile Questions to Ask Others

  1. ⭐️ What’s been on your mind lately?
    1. What’s been taking up most of your attention lately?
    2. What’s that been like?
    3. Is that energizing, draining, or both?
    4. What do you wish people understood about it?
  2. ⭐️ What made you decide to X, Y, Z? (job, move, project, hobby)
  3. ⭐️ What does X, Y, Z mean to you? What makes X, Y, Z meaningful for you?
  4. What is something you care about more than most people realize?
  5. What are you working on these days that you actually care about?
  6. What do you wish you had more time for?
  7. What is a small thing that’s been giving you life lately?
  8. What’s something you’ve changed your mind about recently?
    1. What’s something you used to believe that you don’t anymore?
  9. Tell me more about X, Y, Z.
  10. What’s a question you’ve been sitting with?
  11. Who’s been on your mind lately, and why?
  12. What’s something you’re looking forward to?
  13. What’s been harder than you expected?
  14. What’s been better than you expected?
  15. What are you learning about yourself these days?
  16. What is something you’re trying to get better at?
  17. What do you need more of right now: advice, help, space, encouragement, or distraction?
  18. What question do you wish people would ask you?

Small Talk Questions

  • What brought you here tonight? (Then follow up on whatever they say.)
    • What’s your connection to this place/event/group?
  • How do you know X? (Same idea, but with a person as the anchor.)
  • What are you into outside of work? Or: what’s keeping you busy that isn’t your job?
    • What’s been keeping you busy lately?
    • What’s something your into these days?
    • What does a normal week look like for you these days?
  • What’s the best thing you’ve read or watched or listened to recently?
    • What’s something you’ve enjoyed recently that you’d recommend?
  • What did you think you’d be when you were a kid? (Almost always gets a story.)
  • Adam Grant’s job-interview question, repurposed: Tell me about something that happens at your company that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. Works for any organization or community.
  • What’s a small thing you’re proud of right now?

A general move from Duhigg: when someone mentions a fact about their life, ask how they feel about it. “I just moved here from Pittsburgh” → “What’s it been like leaving Pittsburgh?” not “Oh, what brought you?”

Follow-Up Questions

A good follow-up is often better than a clever opener. Keep these in rotation:

  • “What was that like for you?”
  • “How did you get into that?”
  • “What happened next?”
  • “What surprised you about that?”
  • “Why do you think that stuck with you?”
  • “What do you make of that now?”
  • “What is the hardest part?”
  • “What is the best part?”
  • “What do you wish had happened?”
  • “What are you hoping happens next?”
  • “Can you say more about that?”
  • “What do you mean by that?”
  • “How so?”
  • “What else?”

What questions should I be asking? Let me know!